There isn’t one correct answer when it comes to comments on a blog. It can be great to accept comments and participate in the comment section on your blog. For one, it’s additional content that can be valuable to readers and it may provide some SEO benefit.
But there are plenty of successful blogs that don’t allow comments. In some of these situations I’ve seen the blog owners talk about how they like to host their own content and let any conversation about that content take place off their site on a social media platform or forum or something like that.
Managing comments on a blog is a task. It takes time. You have to determine if you’re going to moderate things strictly or at a certain standard. I’ve seen some blog owners say that they only accept comments that they would allow if someone came into their house. Others freely allow just about any comment.
Let’s say you are accepting comments. You welcome comments. But you’re getting some critical comments.
What is the best way to deal with that situation?
Here are a few considerations…
1. They Have Good Intentions
It’s difficult to entirely tell what the person commenting is trying to say. You can see them in person to read their facial expressions and other body language. They may be trying to say something in jest or with some dry humor. It may come across as mean or inappropriate or offensive or something like that instead. In person, that may be totally fine and both sides would understand, but online when it’s text only it can come across differently.
It might also be that the person really is trying to help. Some people seem to have a personality trait where they are compelled to point out what they feel is wrong with the world and they feel they are helping others by pointing out these faults.
In a way, that is a good intention. Whether they should focus on themselves or if they don’t understand that there can be multiple right answers for a situation is for another conversation. But their intention is to help and if you take it as such you can look for the positive and constructive feedback.
2. They’re Having A Bad Day
Let’s say someone left a snarky comment. Maybe they had a good point on something. Maybe it came across as snarky and that was the intent. They are probably trying to get a rise out of you or out of other readers. They’re looking for some interaction.
There is something weird in some of our brains where that type of interaction provides some purpose to life. It makes us feel connected and smart and things like that.
It could just be that the person was having a bad day. They had something happen earlier in the day. They’re feeling kind of out of it and angry at the world. They read your post and something sets them off and they take out their day’s frustration in the comments section.
It can be good to cut them a little slack. It might not be you as much as it is them.
3. They’re Lonely
The person could also be lonely and looking for some type of connection. They are trying to get your attention so they’re a bit snarky. You could respond kindly. Perhaps ask for more insight and things like that. Maybe it can lead to some good conversation on both sides. These types of interactions can be some of the best in the online world. They don’t always work out, but they can.
Final Thoughts
It’s up to you on how to deal with comments on your blog, if you even want to allow them. There are multiple right ways to handle it. There are good and bad situations that come with any direction you choose. If you are allowing comments and you are dealing with snarky or mean comments, take some time to consider what might be going on with the other person. Give them the benefit of the doubt at first and see how things turn out. Usually you can turn things into something positive.